GUIDED BIRDING & WILDLIFE TOURS SINCE 1985 Tour Info

Transcription

1 Limosa GUIDED BIRDING & WILDLIFE TOURS SINCE 1985 Tour Info Spain Autumn Birding in Andalucia The mass migration of birds of prey - like this magnificent Short-toed Eagle - and storks across the Strait of Gibraltar each autumn is one of Europe s greatest avian spectacles Stephen Daly/ Tuesday 9th - Tuesday 16th September LEADERS Stephen Daly as principal guide An 8-day autumn birdwatching tour to Andalucia, in southernmost Spain, timed to coincide with one of Europe s greatest avian spectacles - the mass migration of birds of prey and storks over the Strait of Gibraltar. And beginning with a 3-night stay adjacent to Spain's flagship Coto Doñana National Park. Witness one of Europe s greatest avian spectacles The mass migration of birds of prey and storks over the Strait of Gibraltar Egyptian Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Honey Buzzard, Booted and Short-toed Eagles Chance of rarities - we have seen Long-legged Buzzard and Rüppell s Griffon Vulture! 3 nights at a lovely village hotel overlooking Spain s flagship Coto Doñana National Park 4 nights at a fine hotel near Tarifa, beside the Strait Greater Flamingo, White-headed Duck, Purple Swamphen, Azure-winged Magpie Audouin s Gull, Hoopoe, Sardinian Warbler and other Mediterranean favourites Pied Flycatcher and Bluethroat among many possible passerine migrants Easy, two-centre tour on Spain s sunny Atlantic coast Led by our man on the spot and Limosa principal guide, Stephen Daly LIMOSA, West End Farmhouse, Chapelfield, Stalham, Norfolk NR12 9EJ (UK) TEL: +44 (0) info@limosaholidays.co.uk WEB: limosaholidays.co.uk

2 Tour Overview The southbound migration of birds of prey and storks across the Strait of Gibraltar each autumn has long been recognised as one of Europe s greatest avian spectacles. The narrow stretch of water between the sierras of southernmost Andalucia and the coast of North Africa provides the shortest crossing over the Mediterranean, with the result that huge numbers of migratory soaring birds flock here every September. Our tour will focus on the best raptor watchpoints around Tarifa, with spectacular views across the Strait to the mountains of Morocco. When conditions are right, parties of Black Kites and Honey Buzzards assemble in search of the morning s first thermals, rising up over the wooded slopes of the coastal sierras. Anticipation grows as the first dots appear in the distance, gradually metamorphosing into an assortment of different shapes and sizes, now discernible as birds of prey. Soon they are with us! At times, some are so close we can see the expression on their faces: Eurasian Griffons, Egyptian Vultures, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Marsh and Montagu s Harriers... all gathering together in readiness for the crossing to Morocco. With them come clouds of White Storks and often a sprinkling of scarcer Black Storks, seeking to gain height before streaming out across the Strait. Each day will of course be different as the presence of raptors depends very much on the prevailing winds. On days when the winds are not right however, there is much to see elsewhere in this lovely corner of Spain. Black-winged Stilt, Hoopoe and Sardinian Warbler are among a host of classic Mediterranean birds to try for and we might also be lucky to find some of the region s more localised inhabitants, such as Black-winged Kite, Audouin s Gull, White-rumped and Little Swifts, and perhaps even Rüppell s Griffon Vulture. But all this is to come, for our tour begins to the north of Cadiz with a three-night stay beside Spain s most illustrious national park, the Coto Doñana. Purple Swamphens clamber about the reeds and troops of exotic Azure-winged Magpies roam the pines, whilst the wetlands at nearby Huelva host migrant waders and terns as well as resident specialities such as Greater Flamingo and White-headed Duck. In September, large numbers of passerine migrants pass through this area too, including virtually all the Pied Flycatchers in Europe! We may see Bluethroat and Glossy Ibis, Squacco Heron and Slender-billed Gull. Man on the spot, Stephen Daly, lives at Barbate, just along the coast from Tarifa, and leads many of our Spanish tours. His intimate local knowledge of the fickle winds and weather patterns around The Strait of Gibraltar during the peak season for migration will prove invaluable on this exciting autumn tour. Outline Itinerary Day 1: Days 2-3: Day 4: Days 5-7: Day 8: Fly London-Gibraltar, transfer northwest to El Rocio (3 nts) Coto Doñana National Park and Huelva wetlands Laguna de Medina. Tarifa (4 nts) Migration over the Strait of Gibraltar, coastal sierras and La Janda Fly Gibraltar-London 2 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see:

3 Tour Itinerary Day 1 FLY GIBRALTAR, TRANSFER TO EL ROCIO We take a direct flight from London to Gibraltar, where Stephen will be waiting to welcome us. We walk the short distance (just a couple of hundred yards) across the border into Spain and are soon driving northwest towards our first hotel. Sleepy El Rocío, a small village right beside the celebrated Coto Doñana National Park, will be our base for a three-night stay. Stephen lives at Barbate, midway between Gibraltar and Doñana, and depending on flight schedules there should be time to stop for our first birding at one or two of his favourite spots along the way. Night El Rocio. Days 2-3 COTO DONANA NATIONAL PARK & HUELVA WETLANDS The extraordinary village of El Rocío preserves its own unique appearance and character. The wide sandy streets are lined with white houses, many of them ornately decorated by the religious brotherhoods from surrounding villages that come here at pilgrimage time - and when the Romeria del Rocío festival attracts up to one million people each year! Indeed, El Rocío seems more reminiscent of old Mexico or the wild West than somewhere in Spain; the main form of transport is still horseback, with hitching rails provided outside the bars, shops and private houses. In the evenings, riders pause outside the bars to sip sherry and chat on horseback, while Pallid Swifts and Red-rumped Swallows wheel overhead. In early autumn, the ancient olive trees in the village squares are attractive to a variety of warblers and flycatchers, the likes of Melodious, Western Bonelli s and Subalpine Warblers, and Pied and Spotted Flycatchers often giving superb views as they feed out in the open. Our hotel overlooks one of the Coto s most famous lagoons, the Madre de las Marismas, which lures passing birds even when dry (as it often is come September). Passage Yellow Wagtails of various races feed on the marsh, often alongside parties of waders, and the nearby reedbeds are well worth checking for migrants. After the long hot Spanish summer, standing water can be hard to find within the park - or indeed anywhere in southern Spain! But the visitor centres often retain flooded pools nearby, as do the region s fishponds and irrigated rice paddies. Greater Flamingo, Glossy Ibis and Spoonbill can usually be found, with an excellent variety of herons, egrets, waterfowl and waders too. Passerine migrants can include Bluethroat, feeding at the base of the reeds. Fallow Deer are numerous, and Red Deer stags are looking at their most impressive now at the start of the rutting season, and may be heard roaring in the early mornings. The star mammal at Doñana is the Iberian Lynx, in one of its only two remaining strongholds. Although the chances of actually seeing this ultra-rare cat are very slim, early in the day we may be lucky to spot fresh tracks in the sand. As the air temperature increases, so raptors become more noticeable. In September, these can include Red Kite, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Lesser Kestrel and, with any luck, one of the world's rarest raptors, Spanish Imperial Eagle. On the ground below, the Coto s parched, open saltings can appear pretty lifeless at this season but are nonetheless worth a look for elusive but localized specialities such as Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Short-toed, Lesser Short-toed and Calandra Larks, and the elfin Spectacled Warbler. We ll visit one of the old hunting lodges, with its excellent displays about life in the Coto de Doñana, and explore the surrounding pinewoods and cork oak groves. Flocks of dramatic Azure-winged Magpies work through the lower branches, checking for scraps left behind at picnic tables, while small birds including Crested Tit, Firecrest and distinctive grey Iberian race of Long-tailed Tit filter through the canopy, and furtive Sardinian and Dartford Warblers scold us from the scrubby undergrowth. 3 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see:

4 If the Coto is dry when we visit, we may head west to nearby Huelva, where dockyards form an unlikely backdrop to some superb wetland birdwatching. Here can be found migrant waders galore, with Slenderbilled Gulls and Caspian Terns joining them on the saltings. Freshwater pools can harbour the very rare Red-knobbed Coot, and the endangered White-headed Duck also occurs, its stiff, upstanding tail making it easy to spot amongst throngs of resting wildfowl. Graceful Black and Whiskered Terns can be numerous over the water in early autumn, while Squacco Herons and Purple Swamphens stalk the edges of the reedbeds. Nights El Rocío. Day 4 TO TARIFA, VIA THE LAGUNA DE MEDINA After our three-night stay at Doñana, we head back south into the drier and more mountainous coastal region around Tarifa. Forming one of the great migration corridors of Europe, huge numbers of birds - most notably raptors and storks - gather here to take advantage of the narrowest crossing over the Strait of Gibraltar into Africa. Situated well away from the infamous costas, on Spain s less-developed Atlantic coast, Tarifa will be our base for four nights. If it still holds water, along the way we may call in at the important wetland of Laguna de Medina, where we have another chance to find White-headed Duck among numerous other species. Little Owls squat in the shade, Corn Buntings jangle in the heat of the day and Cetti s Warblers skulk in the densest cover, only to give themselves away with a sudden outburst of song. As we near Tarifa in the late afternoon, our eyes will turn skyward as we scan eagerly for our first kettles of raptors and storks gathering in readiness to cross the Strait to Morocco. Night at Tarifa. Days 5-7 STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR, COASTAL SIERRAS, LA JANDA & BARBATE Our itinerary in this delightful and varied corner of Andalucia will remain flexible so as to take best advantage of the prevailing weather. If conditions are right, we ll make raptor watching a priority, ensuring we are in position to witness peak passage of the day s crop of southbound migrants. With a westerly edge to the wind, we will want to be in the Gibraltar area, where the spectacular slopes of the craggy Rock itself offer an impressive backdrop to our viewing. If the winds have an easterly origin, however, birds of prey will be pushed further west and we ll then station ourselves in the hills between the ports of Algeciras and Tarifa, so as to get the best possible views. From mighty Griffon Vultures to slimline Montagu s Harriers and dashing Hobbies, this is the best time for diversity and we shall never tire of the fascinating spectacle that unfolds before us. As they seek to gain height in preparation for the crossing from Europe to the mountains of North Africa, birds of prey may suddenly appear low over our heads - sometimes even at eye level, affording unusually close views as they hunt the next thermal that will give them lift. As we watch and wait, there are other attractions here too, with tetchy Sardinian Warblers and migrants such as Hoopoe and Redstart in the low scrub. We ll combine our watches over the Strait with an exploration of the wide range of other habitats in the surrounding countryside. Picturesque wooded valleys cut through the low limestone sierras, clothed in dense stands of Evergreen Oak and set amidst more open slopes of sheep-grazed turf and scrub. Birds of prey are again the stars, with a sizeable resident population of Griffon Vultures, plus good chances of Bonelli s and Golden Eagles, Goshawk and Common Buzzard, while Hobbies and Short-toed Eagles drift lazily through on passage. By comparison, the Crag Martins that swirl about the towering limestone bluffs appear minuscule as we check the steady stream of southbound hirundines for scarcer species such as Red-rumped Swallow and the high-flying Alpine Swift. Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Crested Tit and Hawfinch are among resident woodland species to look for, while the open slopes afford wonderful panoramic views as we scan for the likes of Woodlark, Black 4 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see:

5 Redstart, Stonechat and Cirl Bunting. Add the prospect of Thekla Lark, Blue Rock Thrush and a wide range of possible migrants which could be present at this time of year and we are assured of an exciting few days! Stephen s intimate knowledge of his own backyard should pay dividends in our quest for the highly localised Black-winged Kite, along with two more essentially African species that have established a toe-hold in southern Europe in Iberia: White-rumped and (more recently) Little Swifts. A little to the northwest of Tarifa lies the vast flat plain of La Janda. Once a vast, seasonally flooded lagoon where Common Cranes and other wetland birds bred in abundance, the area is now mostly under agriculture. Nonetheless, it is still an important habitat for birds, the broad sweep of fields set amidst a network of canals and reedy dykes harbouring an array of species. We shall watch for White Stork, Southern Grey Shrike and Calandra Lark, as migrating Marsh and Montagu s Harriers sail lazily across the fields. Our last group even came across a wandering Spanish Imperial Eagle here! Not far from La Janda, the port of Barbate offers a suite of different habitats. The extensive saltpans are much liked by Little Egrets, Avocets and Black-winged Stilts, as well as Gull-billed, Caspian and Little Terns. Zitting Cisticolas (or Fan-tailed Warbler in old money) zip incessantly as we check the lagoons and tidal mud for passage waders such as Whimbrel, Knot and Curlew Sandpiper. We might even encounter the wacky looking Bald Ibis, a small population of which has recently been re-introduced into this corner of Spain in a bid to bolster the beleaguered wild population in southern Morocco. Tarifa Beach is a fine sweeping bay of golden sand. Yet, surprisingly at this time of year, it can often be almost devoid of people. A freshwater outlet running across the sands attracts a regular gathering of gulls. Amongst the numerous Yellow-legged Gulls we should find a handful of clean-looking Audouin s Gulls, together with various terns - which in September could even include the rare Lesser Crested Tern. Sanderlings scamper along the tideline as Ringed and Grey Plovers mingle with the resident Kentish Plovers, and the dunes and damp hollows behind are good places to look for Crested Larks and migrant Yellow Wagtails. Time permitting, and given a stiff on-shore breeze, seawatching from Tarifa can also be rewarding. In September, birds moving along the coast at this gateway to the Mediterranean include Balearic and the scarcer Cory s Shearwaters, Gannet, Common Scoter and skuas. Nights at Tarifa. Day 8 FLY GIBRALTAR-LONDON After breakfast, we bid a reluctant farewell to Stephen s enviable home patch and drive the short distance back to Gibraltar. But keep your bins handy at the airport... migrating raptors may be passing right over the Rock as we wait for our flight back to London! Trip Information Group Limit 12 participants & 2 leaders Birds species Accommodation We begin with three nights at the charming and comfortable 3-star Hotel Turuño in sleepy El Rocio village, with views overlooking the Coto. Its 30 guest rooms all have private bathroom. Followed by four nights at La Codorniz ( the Quail ), a comfortable 3-star hotel near Tarifa, well-known for its Andalucian-style restaurant - and right on the spot for the passage of birds of prey and storks. The hotel has an excellent swimming pool and all rooms are en suite. Our groups have been using both hotels for a number of years now and their locations are just perfect for our tour. 5 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see:

6 Meals All main meals are included in the tour price. Breakfast and dinner will be at the hotels. Lunches may be taken at a local venta or as picnics in the field. Walking Easy. Short walks interspersed with periods sitting watching and waiting for migrating birds of prey and storks at the Strait. Comfy walking shoes recommended (if dry, trainers will often suffice). Weather In September, the weather in Andalucia is usually gloriously warm and sunny, with clear blue skies (23-28C); cooler evenings and nights. Flights We use the scheduled services of British Airways, Easyjet or similar, direct from London- Gibraltar. [Just occasionally, we may switch routes to fly Seville or Jerez instead, according to airline schedules and timings available at the time. If you are planning to join this tour on a land only basis please contact our office before booking your travel plans to check routing and where to meet group.] Ground Transport By minibus. Photos Raptors can sometimes be low enough to photograph at the Strait! Elsewhere, good incidental photographic opportunities. Tour Cost 2014 (8 days): 1595 (inc flights from London) Land only cost: 1445 Deposit: 300 Single Supp: 165 Cost includes Return flights London-Gibraltar, all accommodation, main meals, surface transport, incidental tips, airport taxes, map, bird checklist and services of the leaders. Cost excludes Insurance, drinks & other items of a personal nature. This trip will be operated in conjunction with The Travelling Naturalist What You Say... Two very good bases for seeing birds. Stephen lives locally and has a great knowledge of the birds and the best sites, and also good lunch stops. I felt very privileged to see rare birds like Pin-tailed Sandgrouse and Purple Swamphen... At one point we saw eight different raptors in half an hour, including kettling Griffon Vultures and good views of Montagu s Harriers. Lots of new birds for me... Lindsey Cottam, Spain September tour 6 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see:

7 About Your Guides Stephen Daly Stephen is a principal Limosa guide who lives near Barbate (near Cadiz), in Andalucia, the southernmost province of Spain. A birdwatcher since the age of eight, his first birding memories are of Aberlady Bay on Scotland's Firth of Forth. Having subsequently lived and worked in the UK, Germany and France, he finally settled in Andalucia, where he runs his own specialist wildlife tour company. Stephen's hobbies include walking, painting, music, reading and single malt whiskies. He is married to his German wife Patty, and is fluent in Spanish, German and French - as well as English of course! Living within a short drive of Tarifa, Stephen is the natural choice to guide this autumn break to Andalucia, where his network of local contacts and intimate knowledge of the region s birds, fickle winds and weather patterns around The Strait of Gibraltar during the annual autumn migration will prove invaluable. A second Limosa guide (tba) will be added as tour size warrants. Limosa Loyalty Discount We are proud of the number of loyal customers who travel regularly with us. As our way of saying thank you, we offer a Frequent Travel Discount. Under the scheme, everyone who takes four trips with us is entitled to claim a 5% discount on their fifth trip *1. Alternatively, you can opt to save your discounts up and carry them forward to claim a 10% discount on your 10th trip. The choice is yours, but please remember to request your discount at time of booking! *1 Please note: This offer applies to the basic tour cost only and excludes certain commission-based trips, extras such as additional flights, private extensions and cancellations. Discounts cannot be given in lieu of tour deposits or off the cost of single room supplements. How to Book You can make a booking by one of three easy methods, but if you experience any problems, please feel free to contact the office. Be sure to read our Booking Conditions and General Information found at the back of our current brochure or on our website - Book Online: You can book swiftly and securely online via our website: Book by Post: Our brochures contain a Booking Form, but you can also download a copy from our website - Please complete both sides of the form, remembering to sign and date the section at the bottom of the second page. Send this to us, together with the appropriate Booking Deposit (see below). Telephone bookings: Telephone bookings will be accepted on a provisional basis to allow time for your Booking Form and deposit to reach us by mail. We will hold provisional reservations for up to 14 days pending receipt of booking form, after which time any unconfirmed space will be released. Payments Deposits: The amount of deposit per person is shown above. We accept payment by cheque (drawn on a UK bank in GB Pounds Sterling), by BACS or internet banking (please ask us for our bank details), and by debit card. We also accept most major credit cards (not AmEx). 7 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see:

8 Final Balance: Full payment of the balance is due not later than 12 weeks prior to departure (occasionally longer in the case of some tours such as cruises or those involving rail travel). We will send you an invoice at about this time indicating the balance. We accept payment for final balances by cheque or debit card. Payment of the balance can also be by credit card with a 2% commission charge for the latter (see below). Please ask for our bank details if you prefer to transfer your payment direct to our bank account. Card Charges: Due to escalating credit card charges we are unable to absorb the cost of these. We will not charge for payment of the initial booking deposit (amount as indicated in the Tour Cost section, above), but will make a 2% commission charge on any balances or subsequent payments (e.g. interim flight deposits) paid by credit card. We do not charge commission on payments made by debit card or by cheque or direct to bank. Late Bookings: In order for us to guarantee your airline seats, hotels etc., full payment is required at time of booking for all late bookings (i.e. bookings made within 12 weeks of departure). When to Book This is one of the most Frequently Asked Questions - the short answer is as early as possible! Accommodation and flights are much more easily secured well in advance and there is nothing more frustrating than to know that on paper space is still available on the tour but that hotels and/or flights are full. To encourage early booking therefore, we are pleased to offer an Early Booking Discount - see our current brochure or website for details. Our tours are limited to small group sizes, so they can fill up quickly - sometimes even before our new brochure comes out! It's not unusual to find trips are fully booked around four to six months in advance. Single rooms in particular can often be in short supply and among the first to go, so do try to plan well ahead if you definitely require one of these. Last-minute bookings: We inevitably receive a few unexpected late cancellations over the course of a season so it is always worth enquiring about vacancies on any tour - even for those departing in just a few weeks time! Other Things You Need To Know Passports & Visas All participants must be in possession of a valid passport. For UK passport holders, for stays of up to three months, your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. Although no additional period of validity beyond this is required, when travelling anywhere overseas we always recommend that your passport has a minimum of 6 months left to run after your intended date of return home in case of unforeseen delay. VISA NOT REQUIRED by UK passport holders for this tour. Holders of non-uk passports should contact their nearest Spanish embassy or consulate to enquire whether or not they require a visa. If a visa is required, you need to apply locally. If the embassy or consulate requires you to provide a letter confirming that you are booked on an all-inclusive tour, please contact our office and we will be happy to provide one. 8 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see:

9 Health & Vaccinations Compulsory vaccinations: None. Recommended vaccinations: For travel everywhere (even within the UK), we recommend you check you are up-to-date with protection against tetanus, polio and hepatitis A. The above information, together with that contained within our Travel Information sheets (sent to everyone who books), outlines health requirements for this tour. Please note that these details are given for guidance only - and are only for certain diseases - and you must consult your doctor in good time prior to travel as to what immunisations (if any) are needed for your chosen holiday. For full and up-to-date health information we urge everyone to consult The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website prior to booking any overseas holiday. NaTHNaC is funded by the UK Government s Health Protection Agency and provides health information for both health professionals and travellers, with information compiled by its own clinical and scientific team. You can search for your individual country requirements, which are updated regularly. Your Safety & Travel Advice An unavoidable aspect of travelling abroad nowadays is the threat it may pose to your safety and security. The UK s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) encourages British nationals to be better prepared for their overseas trips with a view to avoiding common travelling traumas, risks and dangers. In order for you to assess and protect against any risks in your chosen destination it is strongly recommended that you refer to the relevant FCO Travel Advice both prior to booking and regularly before you travel. It is standard Limosa policy for our office to send a copy of the relevant FCO Travel Advice about the tour to all participants along with their Final Letter (2-4 weeks prior to the trip). Further useful information on visas, health, etc., can be found at the World Travel Guide website: Know Before You Go - staying safe and healthy abroad - is a travel safety campaign run by the FCO, and another useful resource. Go to: Travel Insurance Good travel insurance is essential before setting off on any overseas trip. In common with all responsible tour operators, it is a condition of booking that all clients are fully and adequately insured before travelling overseas with us. Your travel insurance should cover against cancellation, curtailment, missed departure, delay, personal accident, death, loss of baggage and valuables (see note below), personal liability and legal expenses. Most importantly, your insurance must cover you fully in respect of medical care and repatriation should you become too ill to continue with the tour, including the cost of emergency evacuation by helicopter or air ambulance should this be necessary. Note that passenger liability insurance covering the transportation that we hire, particularly in Third World countries, may be inadequate; it is therefore important that your insurance cover includes sufficient provision for your dependents in the event of an accident. We recommend that you obtain travel insurance as soon as possible after booking your holiday to ensure you are protected right from the word go in the event of unexpected cancellation prior to departure due to accident or illness. You must inform your insurers of any pre-existing medical conditions (including those of persons not necessarily travelling but upon whom your holiday may depend) that may require treatment during a period of overseas travel or might cause you to cancel the trip. 9 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see:

10 Once you have arranged your insurance, please be sure to send us the following essential details: name and contact details of your insurance provider, your policy number, expiry date and your insurers 24hr Emergency Assistance number. Important Things to Note! Be aware that Travel Insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover for valuable optical equipment, which is often best protected under your own household insurance policy. If in doubt ask your insurers for advice prior to travel. Most travel insurance policies limit the amount of cover, typically up to a maximum tour cost of 5000 per person. If the tour you are booking exceeds this amount, additional cover can usually be provided upon payment of additional premium. We recommend all travellers check their individual policy limit to ensure the full cost of their holiday is covered. Arranging Your Insurance: due to UK Government legislation, under Financial Services Authority (FSA) regulations, we are not allowed to offer or recommend travel related insurance to customers. Premiums can vary widely according to your age, needs, health, choice of destination and other factors, while many people nowadays have Annual Travel Insurance cover. For these reasons, we leave you free to shop around and pick your own policy, one best suited to your own individual needs. General Information Our website gives easy access to detailed tour itineraries (Tour Info Packs), trip reports, trip photos and the latest Limosa News. Special Diets & Other Requests We pass on all such requests to the airlines, hotels and other suppliers, and do our best to ensure (but of course cannot guarantee) that your needs will be met. Please be sure to tell us about these (in as much detail as possible) at the time of booking, to allow good time to make the necessary arrangements. Smoking Almost all of our clients prefer a smoke-free environment. For the enjoyment and comfort of all, we ask that smokers refrain from smoking in proximity to the group and respect our NO SMOKING policy in the vehicle, at meal times and when watching wildlife. Any Questions? If you have any questions at any time, you ll find our office staff friendly, efficient, approachable - and just a phone call away, eager to assist you in every way. Our office is open hrs Mon-Fri, and can also be reached by fax and . In the event we are unable to take your call, please leave a message on our answerphone (24 hrs) and our office will contact you as soon as we can. Thank you for your interest in our tours. We do hope that you will be able to join us - and we look forward to hearing from you again! CKBS Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see: